I write to correct the record regarding stories in the Daily Telegraph and Adelaide Advertiser this morning (19 June) titled 'Cover-up springs a huge leak' and '$100m ship fault kept secret’.
The assertion that there was any cover up over the recent defect to HMAS Choules is quite simply wrong. On Friday afternoon of last week I directed that a press release be issued on the following Monday advising of the defect. Monday was chosen to allow Navy time over the weekend to more fully understand the nature of the defect in the ship. A media inquiry from News Limited was received in Defence as the press release was in its final clearance stage. The media inquiry did not ask about a loss of electrical power, as stated in this morning's papers, but simply whether the ship had returned to port due to a mechanical fault.
As was the case in this incident, Navy will continue to be transparent about its activities where this does not jeopardise operational security.
Ray Griggs
VADM, RAN
Chief of Navy
Issued by Ministerial and Executive Coordination and Communication,
Department of Defence,
Canberra, ACT
Phone: 02 6127 1999 Fax: 02 6265 6946
